Hay-rake



(No Model.)

J. H. THOMAS.

HAY RAKE.

No. 482,632. Patented Sept. 13, 1892.

yflgllm Eurofii BY A TTOBNEYJ' WITNESSES.

ERS co., PHOTO-LIT UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. THOMAS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OI-IIO.

HAY-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,532, datedSeptember 13, 1892.

' Application filed May 11, 1892. $erial No. 432,681. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. THOMAS, acitizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Rakes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring-tooth hay-rakes; and itespecially relates to improvements in the devices for securing andholding the rake-teeth to the rakehead.

The object of my invention isto provide'an improved holding device forspringteeth which shall support a rake-tooth and hold it in the properposition without additional attachment by engaging the coil at a singlepoint so as to firmly support the same and leave the remainder of thecoil free to act independently and elastically under pressure exerted onthe tooth.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations ofparts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of aportion of a hay-rake, showing the rake-head with myimproved holdingdevice attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of thesame. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view with the rake-teeth removed. Fig. 4:is a perspective view of my improved device in detail.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral Views.

In the said drawings, a, represents a rakehead of ordinary constructionadapted to be pivotally mounted upon any suitable frame in a well-knownmanner. I) b are rake-tceth formed at or near the top with a coil 19 inthe usual well-known manner to afford sufficient resilience andelasticity to the teeth in operation, the upper end of the tooth beingprovided With a straight portion 19 which is screw-threaded and providedwith a nut 19 to connect it to the rake-head a.

c is my improved tooth-holder, which is formed with projecting sides 0'0 adapted to form an open box or socket 0 to receive the coil b of thetooth, and with an extending arm 0 having at its outer end alateralprojection 0 the periphery of which is formed with a groove 0 of ashapeand size to correspond. to

that portion of the coil 1) which joins the straight extended portionNot the tooth. Immediately below the arm 0 and in line with the lowerside of the grooved portion 0 is an opening 0 through which the straightportion 19 of the tooth is adapted to pass and thence through therake-head a in a well-known manner. A projecting lug c on the back ofthe holder 0 is adapted to engage in an opening or groove a in therake-head, and thus prevent lateral movement of the holder 0 about thestraight portion 6 which forms the sole connection between the tooth,itsholder, and the rake-head. The arm 0 is preferably provided with a rib cto secure the proper strength and lightness of construction.

In assembling the parts the holders 0 are placed on the rake-head a,with the lug c resting in the groove a. The rake-teeth are inserted inplace by passing the straight portion 19 thereof through the opening cin the holder and a corresponding opening formed through the rake-headin the usual manner. The tooth is pressed firmly into the holder withthe front portion of the coil resting in the socket between the lateralsides 0 c and the rear portion of the coil resting in the groove 0 atthe point where the coil begins-e. c., where the coil joins the straightportion b of the tooth. The nut b is then tightened, which draws thatportion of the coil within the groove 0 against the outer end of the arm0 leaving all the remainder of the coil free for elastic and independentaction, the pointof contact between the end of the arm 0 and thatportion of the coil which engages therewith being the only connectionbetween the holder and rake-tooth when the parts are in their normalposition. As the nut is tightened the holder 0 is also tightened againstthe rake-head, so that'all the parts are held firmly together withoutany other means of fastening, the front portion of the coil restingsnugly but freely in the socket c and between the lateral projectingsides thereof is held against any unusual. lateral movement ordisplacement. It will be seen that by the constructions thus described aspring-tooth holder is provided, which serves the double purpose ofsupporting the tooth in such a manner that the strain thereon istransmitted directly to the 00ll,'tlltlS preventing any bending of thetooth Where it enters or is attached to the rake-head and at the sametime holding the tooth against lateral movement without any otherconnections or attachments.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A holder for rake-teeth,having an open socket with projecting sides and an extended armprojecting from said socket, said arm being provided with a groovedperiphery, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A holder for rake-teeth, formed of a single piece and provided With areceiving-socket for the spring-coil and an extended grooved arm adaptedto support the tooth by engaging with the coil at a single point, saidholder being provided with an opening in line with the lower side ofsaid engaging-arm, substantially as specified.

3. In a hay-rake, the combination, with the rake-head and thespring-tooth connected thereto, of a tooth-hold er having a socket withprojecting sides to receive the spring-coil, and a projecting arm with agrooved periphery adapted to receive and support the projecting end ofsaid rake-tooth at the point Where .it

joins the coil, and means for securing said rake-tooth and holder tosaid rake-head, sub stantially as specified.

4. The combination, with a rake-head, of a spring-tooth having a coiland an extending screw-threaded portion, a tooth-holder having a socketto receive said coil, and an extending arm adapted to engage and holdsaid extended portion at the point where it joins said coil, aprojecting lug on said holder to engage said rake-head, and means forsecuring the extended portion of said tooth in said rakehead,substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a rake-head, of a spring-tooth having a coiland a straight extended portion, a tooth-holder having a projecting armgrooved atits outer periphery to engage said tooth at a single pointbetween said coiland extended portion, and means for securing theextended portion of said tooth in the rake-head, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of May, A.D. 1892.

JOHN H. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. BEARD, J. W. SHOEMAKER.

